Isabella Palumbo started in her first KIJHL game with the Golden Rockets on Jan. 20. She logged her first win, the team’s third this season with a score of 7-4 at the Golden Arena. (Marissa Tiel/ Revelstoke Review)

15-year-old girl nets win in her junor B hockey debut in the Kootenays

Golden Rockets goalie believed to be league’s first girl to play a full game in goal and win

Isabella Palumbo has played on boys teams for nearly her entire hockey career. On Saturday night, the 15-year-old goalie shone at the highest level so far, starting in net for the Golden Rockets and logging her first win at the Junior B level.

“It was awesome,” said Palumbo of the game the following afternoon.

The Rockets had only two wins heading into Saturday night’s game in Golden. Their first was a win by default on Sept. 8 after the Castlegar Rebels dressed an ineligible player. Their second came on Jan. 5 against the Fernie Ghostriders.

The atmosphere in the Golden Arena last night was unbelievable, said coach Jason Stephens.

A sold-out rink cheered Palumbo’s every save – 41 of them.

“Every time I made a save, the whole crowd went wild,” she said.

Palumbo is thought to be the first female goalie in the KIJHL to play the full 60 minutes and win.

The win is coming at a good time for the Rockets, who are 3-32-1-2 this season.

“The boys have had a rough year,” said Charlene Fairchild, who runs the Rockets’ social media pages.